IT has been a difficult year for John Mooney since he came back from the Caribbean. The man seen taking the last catch against Pakistan, and soloing the ball, Man-of-War GAA club style, made himself unavailable after the World Cup and exams kept him out of the early part of this season. But the onset of autumn has given new vigour to his arms and legs and he has responded in style. Last week he scored a match-winning century as Ireland won the European A' championship, and finished as man of the tournament, with more runs (143), wickets (7) and catches (4) than anyone on the four teams.
The big games are coming thick and fast for him as he bids to get back in Phil Simmons' first XI. Yesterday he played on the North County team against Clontarf in the Antalis Leinster cup final, while on Friday his club takes on Donemana in an eagerly-awaited Bob Kerr Irish cup final at Strabane.
'The hair is standing on the back of my neck even thinking about the game', he told Inside Edge, 'It should be a great atmosphere, I'm looking forward to playing in front of a passionate set of fans.
'I really want to win a fifth winners medal. I seem to save my best performances for the Irish Senior Cup I've won the man of the match on a few occasions.'
Mooney has been there as North County put together the greatest run of form by an Irish club for decades. They have only lost three games this century in the competition, to Rush, Instonians and Friday's opponents, in 2002. They took their revenge in style, hammering the north-westerners in 2003 and 2004.
'North County and Donemana are two of the biggest clubs in the country they both have great youth set ups. There's lot of experience in both camps with big name players. We'll target the Mc Brines, McGerrigle and Shafiq, but their youngsters seem to be contributing a bit more this year - maybe they are coming of age.'
North County's youngsters are coming on nicely too, none more than Eddie Richardson, who could join his Uncle John on the Irish team in an Ian Harte/Gary Kelly situation.
He can't wait for Friday: 'They'll put it up to us in the final, they're winners and it will be great to play against them. I hope to see one of the biggest crowds ever for a club match in Ireland.'(For those who can't make the game, NEARfm, 90.3fm, will be carrying coverage during the day, with Fergus Carroll at the microphone.)
Another big performance and Mooney will surely be getting his vaccinations for Ireland's African tour in October. Does he regret stepping out after the World Cup?
'Not at all', he explained, 'I want to play for Ireland like every player in the country. But I had to get my house in order to get myself into a position I am in now, which is to get back into the team. I set myself a few goals a few years back to play in the World Cup and to get myself an apprenticeship as an electrician. They came together and as they were both four years things I came back from the World Cup and made sure I was qualified before I moved on in cricket.'
Mooney played just twice in the Caribbean, his best showing being a top-score 23 against Australia. 'I'm not disappointed with that we had a squad of 15 and everyone had a chance to play. One of those was my brother, one of those was Peter Gillespie, a great friend of mine, so I missed out on a couple of games, but in the situation we were in I was glad that everybody got to play
So, is it too late for John Boy to dream of playing in another World Cup?
'There's always a chance I'm not a selector. But I can only give myself a chance by scoring runs and taking wickets and take half chances in the field. If that's not good enough, it's not good enough. The Twenty20 is a huge tournament for Irish cricket and I'm sure the coaches and selectors will make the right decision.'
Pity poor Regan West, the ex-New Zealand Under 19 left-armer who has been at Civil Service North for several seasons. West was selected in the Ireland A' squad for the European Championship last week but was promoted when Kevin O'Brien was injured in the dressing room before the first ODI against Kenya. West made his debut in the second game, but never got to bat as play was abandoned with Ireland 18-2. The third ODI was abandoned without a ball bowled.
Thinus Fourie must have had access to long-term weather forecasts, because he shrewdly asked to be excused from the ODI series to play for Ireland A', and responded with wickets and runs as Ireland became European A' champions at the first time of asking.
Kyle McCallan left Stormont last week laden down with tributes on his record-breaking 200th cap. Robin Walsh, chairman of the newly-formed Cricket Writers of Ireland, paid tribute to McCallan: 'Kyle has been a magnificent servant to Irish cricket and it is only fitting that we mark this milestone. He has been unfailingly courteous and generous with his time to Irish journalists.'
The Cricket Writers made a presentation of a crystal cricket ball, a framed collage of highlights of his career, and a bound photograph album of shots taken throughout his time in the Irish team.